Apparatus for handling block-like articles

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for handling block-like articles having first and second conveyor means, including means controlled by the first conveyor means for causing parts to be delivered by the second conveyor means to the first conveyor means at spaced intervals so that the parts are advanced onto and carried on the first conveyor means at spaced intervals with at least certain of the parts on the second conveyor means being disposed one immediately behind the other in the direction of advance of the second conveyor means.

United States Patent Comstocket al.

[15] 3,56,06 [451 Apr. 1, 1972 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING BLOCK- LIKE ARTICLES lnventors:

Bnrdsal Gardner Wilcox, Oakland, Calif.

Saievvay Stores, Incorporated, Oakland, Calif.

Filed: Apr. 30, 1970 App1.No.: 33,405

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 779,734, Nov. 29, 1968, which is a division of Ser. No. 402,746, Oct. 9, 1964, Pat. No. 3,433,278.

Assignee:

' US. Cl ..l98/34, 198/ 102 Int. Cl. "B653 21/26. Field of Search 198/34, 102, 21; 221/13 Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Allred E. Comstoclt, Frontenac, Minn;

Gillman 198/ 102 2,941,126 6/1960 Frankenfield ..198/34X 7 1,669,357 5/1928 Stoutet al ..198/102X Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Hadd 8. Lane Anomey-Fiehr, l-lohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for handling block-like articles having first and second conveyor means, including means controlled by the first conveyor means for causing parts to be delivered by the second conveyor means to the first conveyor means at spaced intervals so that the parts are advanced onto and carried on the first conveyor means at spaced intervals with at least certain of the parts on the second conveyor means being disposed one immediately behind the other in the direction of advance of the second conveyor means.

PATENTEUAPR 18 1972 SHEET 010F330 INVENTORS Alfred E. Camsfocla Bur-115a] Gar ner Wilcox 6%, 4 EM.

A TTORNE YS PATENTEUAPR 18 m2 SHEET C20? 30 qm m INVENTORS Alfred Comstoclz Burdsa/ Gardner Wilcox W ()RNEYS SHEET DBUF 3O PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 lhVFNTORS A TiORNEYS Alfred E. Comstoclz R Burdsal Gar ner Al PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 3,656,606

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Burclsa/ Gar ner Wile x M 72:

ATTORNEYS PATENTED R 1 8 I972 SHEET 879F316 I INVENTURS Alfred Comstocle Burasal Gardner Wilcox 5mg, ,9 ,w A TORNEYS PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 SHEEI 120! 30 IN VFINTORS Alfred l1 comstocle Burdsa/ Garclzer PATENTEDAFR 18 I972 SHEET 13UF 30 INVENTORS I Alfred E. Comstocle Burclsa/ Gard er i/cox 7-) T ()RNE S PATENTEBAPR 18 IHYZ 3, 656, 606

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ORNE YS PATENTEDAPR 18 m2 SHEET 18GF INVENTORS Alfred Comstoclz Bur-(15a Gard r Wilcox Fig. 2/

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1. In apparatus of the character described, delivery conveyor means for delivering parts, actuating means for operating the delivery conveyor means to cause the parts to be delivered by the delivery conveyor means, advancing conveyor means for receiving parts and for delivering parts to the delivery conveyor means, and means controlled by the delivery conveyor means for causing parts to be delivered from the advancing conveyor means to the delivery conveyor means at spaced intervals of time so that at least certain of the parts are advanced onto and carried on the delivery conveyor means at spaced apart positions longitudinal of the delivery conveyor means, at least certain of the parts on the advancing conveyor means being disposed one immediately behind the other in the direction of advance of the advancing conveyor means.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said delivery and advancing conveyor means each have upper surface portions lying in a common plane.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means controlled by the delivery conveyor includes means for sensing the leading edge of the parts carried by the advancing conveyor means to determine the arrival of at least one of the parts at a predetermined point for stopping the advancing conveyor Means.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said delivery and advancing conveyor means includes roller means adapted to engage the top surfaces of the parts to facilitate transfer of the parts from the advancing conveyor means to the delivery conveyor means.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 1 together with means for arresting the travel of additional parts from the advancing conveyor means to the delivery conveyor means when a predetermined number of parts have been delivered to the delivery conveyor means during an interval of time.
 6. In apparatus of the character described, means for advancing a plurality of parts in which at least certain of the parts are disposed in relatively close proximity to each other to prevent the passage of substantial light therebetween, means for receiving parts from the advancing means, and actuating means operated by the part receiving means for controlling the advancement of said advancing means, said actuating means including means for sensing the leading edge of the parts carried by the advancing means so that when the leading edge of one of said parts arrives at a predetermined position, said advancing means is stopped to prevent the transfer of the part from the advancing means to the part receiving means, said actuating means also including means actuated by operation of the receiving means for causing said advancing means to be operated after it has been stopped to cause the transfer of at least one part from the advancing means to the part receiving means, said part receiving means including means for advancing the part received at a speed which is greater than the speed at which the parts are advanced by the advancing means so that the parts which are received by the receiving means are separated from the parts on the advancing means.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said advancing means and said receiving means are at the same level.
 8. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said advancing means and said receiving means include driven rollers overlying the parts and adapted to frictionally engage the parts to facilitate transfer of the parts from the advancing means to the receiving means.
 9. In apparatus of the character described, a first endless conveyor for receiving parts with at least certain of the parts being disposed in relatively close proximity to each other to prevent the passage of substantial light therebetween in one direction, said endless conveyor having an upper run with at least a portion thereof being disposed in a horizontal plane, a second endless conveyor having an upper run with a portion disposed in the same horizontal plane as said portion of said first endless conveyor and having one end disposed in relatively close proximity to one end of the first named endless conveyor, photoelectric means for sensing the leading edge of the parts on the first endless conveyor and for stopping travel of the endless conveyor, means for advancing said second endless conveyor at a rate of speed which is greater than the advancement of said first endless conveyor, and actuating means operated by the second endless conveyor for causing a part to be transferred to the second endless conveyor after the first endless conveyor has been stopped by said photoelectric means, said second endless conveyor serving to advance the parts transferred onto the second endless conveyor away from the parts on the first endless conveyor so that space is provided between the parts so that said photoelectric means can sense the leading edge of the succeeding parts to stop the operation of the first endless conveyor.
 10. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said first endless conveyor and said second endless conveyor includes roller means disposed above the upper runs of each of the conveyors at the adjacent ends of the endless conveyors and means for driving each of the roller means from the associated endless conveyor, said roller means being adapted to engage the upper surfaces of the parts carried by the first and second endless conveyors. 